RESERVE YOUR SHARE OF LOCALLY GROWN ORGANICALLY RAISED VEGETABLES AND HERBS OFFERED BY GRATEFUL PLAINS CSA PROGRAM IN GRAND RIDGE ILLINOIS

Grateful Plains, a 5-acre family farm in Grand Ridge, IL, focused on pioneering the local food movement in our region, will offer locally-grown, non-GMO veggies and herbs for the second season through their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. A convenient solution for people who love the taste of farm-fresh produce, but lack the time to shop, or wherewithal to grow it, CSA shares come fresh-picked, packed and ready to go for as little as $15 per week with a convenient weekly pickup in Morris, IL. Payment plans are available. Grateful Plains is offering shares for the 2015 season with weekly or bi-weekly pickups beginning in early June for a 22-week season. Now is the time to enroll.

Every week, from early June through late October, CSA members receive a fresh-pick of vegetables grown by Holly Hughes and her family, owners and small growers at Grateful Plains in Grand Ridge. Every share includes generous portions of the season’s bounty, each in its due time, including summer favorites such as tomatoes and peppers, cooking staples like onions, carrots and lettuce, as well as chefs’ picks like golden chard, candy-striped beets, purple tomatillos and oasis salad turnips.Grateful Plains starts their own seedlings from non-GMO seeds and uses no synthetic chemicals to ensure produce is healthy, nutritious, tasty and responsibly grown.

The CSA also offers a microgreens, herbs for tea, fresh-cut bouquets and even edible flowers to experiment with throughout the season. Occasionally, fruit is included in the share such as berries, apples and fall pears. Businesses will often purchase a fruit or vegetable share to split amongst the employees in the office.

Four share sizes are available ranging from $140 to $830 for the 22 week season. A family of four who prepares fresh meals at least three times a week will be delighted with the full share portion, about 1/2 a bushel of fresh produce each week. Members also have the option of picking up their share bi-weekly. Trial shares are also offered during the first 6 weeks of the season to see if the CSA program is a fit for your family with an option to upgrade to a full membership for the remainder of the season.

As part of its mission to make fresh, healthy food accessible to all, Grateful Plains offers its Grow-a-Row donation program. Donations to the Grow-a-Row program subsidize the cost of shares for individuals and families in our area who are experiencing financial or medical hardship.

In addition, Grateful Plains dedicates varieties being grown for yield tests and market popularity to their Grow-a-Row program that gets distributed to local food pantries, too.

For more information about the 2015 CSA membership including pricing, payment plans and to preview a membership agreement, contact Grateful Plains at 815-249-5134, or visit www.gratefulplains.com to register and/or make a donation. 2015 season shares are limited and are filled on a first-come, first-reserved basis as deposits are received. 2016 enrollment will begin in August and conclude on October 31, 2015.

Grateful Plains is a local family farm working to educate our community and provide produce for our local food movement through community-based partnerships in Livingston, LaSalle and Grundy Counties. Founded by Holly Hughes in 2014, the farm is committed to non-GMO and naturally raised produce offered affordably to area residents. Holly also hosts Kids Eco Camp and mentors the Community Garden in Grand Ridge where horticulture therapy meetups support area families experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome to receive support and self-healing for coping with tragedy, death and grief.